Proving that a ballet flat is not a ballet flat without those ankle straps, but keeping things edgy with the peep-toe almost ubiquitously seen on his designs of late, Louboutin surprises us this season with a few models that, amazingly, do without the 5-inch stiletto heel:

Christian Louboutin Peep-Toe Ballet Flat, $690 at Barney’s (also available in black).

Here’s another with a touch of rustic chic:

Christian Louboutin stitched ballet flats, $725 at Barney’s.

What I’m curious about, though, how much are women willing to pay for Louboutin flats, when his staple design involve either stilettos or wedges of dizzying heights? How distinctive are these designs for one to be willing to part with about $700 (let’s face it, a month’s rent for some of us) for a shoe that’s not even distinctly recognizable as a Loubou? Well, save for the red sole, but you’d have to take pains flaunting that one. Is the mystique gone once the height (and pain) is gone? One wonders…